Hornet Sting MTG Card

Hornet Sting’s ability to disrupt at instant speed offers strategic advantages outside normal combat phases. Despite its utility, the card’s specific green mana cost can limit deck-building flexibility. Hornet Sting’s unique position as a direct damage spell in green decks adds unusual tactical value.

Magic 2011 (M11)
2010-07-16 - Number 181

Hornet Sting - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)

Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
2020-03-08 - Number 71

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M11-184

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Hornet Sting deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

It was only then—to his infinite sorrow—that Gork realized hornets don't make honey.

Cards like Hornet Sting

Hornet Sting stands out in the realm of green direct damage spells in MTG. Modestly powered, Hornet Sting allows players to deal 1 damage to any target, an ability typically associated with red spells. In essence, it echoes the functionality of cards like Shock, which also inflicts 2 damage, but with the increased potential damage output. Unlike its red counterparts, Hornet Sting is a green card, making it a unique inclusion in green decks that might look to include removal options.

Another card that could be mentioned alongside Hornet Sting is Gut Shot, which can deal 1 damage to any target as well. While Gut Shot comes with a greater flexibility due to its Phyrexian mana cost, allowing players to cast it by paying life instead of mana, it doesn’t represent green’s typical strategy. Lastly, we can look at Psionic Blast, an atypical blue direct damage card that goes a step further by dealing 4 damage to any target and 2 damage to you, offering a more aggressive, albeit self-damaging, approach.

Even though Hornet Sting might not be the most powerful option for direct damage, it carves a niche for itself by offering this effect within a green mana framework, thus providing green decks a unique tool for dealing with threats on the board.

Cards similar to Hornet Sting by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Hornet Sting is a one-for-one card, its ability to deal damage outside regular combat can disrupt opponent’s strategies, potentially removing key creatures and indirectly leading to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Hornet Sting itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, its low cost allows players to use their mana efficiently, retaining resources for more significant plays later.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Hornet Sting grants players the flexibility to respond during the opponent’s turn, efficiently managing threats and maintaining the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hornet Sting may seem appealing for dealing with small threats, it’s important to note that playing it does not involve a discard requirement. This can be misleading; since many instant spells with low costs have additional costs, one might overestimate its utility by expecting a drawback that doesn’t exist.

Specific Mana Cost: Hornet Sting’s specific mana cost requires green mana, which pigeonholes it into green decks or those that can accommodate green mana. This limits the flexibility of the card in deck construction and can be a drawback for mono-color decks of a different color or those that can’t afford to include green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing a single green mana might seem inexpensive, in the context of what it offers—just one damage to any creature or player—the cost-to-effect ratio is quite high. There are numerous other options in MTG that can deal more damage or offer additional effects at a similar or even lower mana cost, making Hornet Sting less efficient in terms of mana economy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hornet Sting offers a unique effect for green decks, providing an unusual way to deal direct damage, which can disrupt opponents’ early game creatures or finish off weakened targets.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in interactions that benefit from targeted damage, acting as a catalyst for cards that trigger when damage is dealt or creatures die.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small, utility creatures are prevalent, Hornet Sting can serve as an efficient answer, giving green mages a tool that is not normally at their disposal.

How to beat

Hornet Sting presents a unique angle in the world of Magic: The Gathering, primarily because of its ability to deal one damage to any target as a green spell, which notably departs from the color’s usual creature-centric tactics. Typically, dealing with Hornet Sting involves countering it with spells such as Negate, which can nullify the effect outright. Players might also bypass the need for such specific counters by engaging in a proactive approach, maintaining a robust board presence that can easily shrug off a single point of damage, or employing an instant-speed creature buff to offset the sting’s impact.

Moreover, the strategic use of life-gain abilities can mitigate the potential adverse effects of Hornet Sting. Cards like Essence Warden or Authority of the Consuls provide players with constant and incidental life boosts which can effectively nullify the damage from minor sources like Hornet Sting. It’s a simple yet effective way to ensure the sting’s impact remains negligible throughout the course of play.

In essence, Hornet Sting requires context and timing to be impactful. By staying ahead in card value or simply being able to absorb or redirect its damage, players can ensure that this unique little spell doesn’t throw a wrench in their game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hornet Sting MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Hornet Sting and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hornet Sting Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-07-16	Magic 2011	M11	181	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Stewart
2	2020-03-08	Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils	FMB1	71	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Stewart
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	M11-184	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hornet Sting has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal